Namibia: Nssu to Host Cossasa Athletics Championships

Lorato Khobetsi

21 April 2011

Namibia will host the 2011 Confederation of Schools’ Sports Associations in Southern Africa (COSSASA) athletics championship from 29 to 30 April at the Independence Stadium, after the initial host, Swaziland of the regional winter games pulled out, the Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) announced this week.

“NSSU plays a very important role in Namibia by helping the continent to contribute effectively to issues of the African Agenda, which includes consolidating unity in Africa, social cohesion at both policy and programme level. This is critical in this highly globalised world,” said Solly Duiker, national co-ordinator of NSSU.

This year’s annual championships will feature Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Boland – a province in South Africa, as well as Namibia. Botswana and South Africa will not be represented at this year’s championship due to unresolved issues in their education departments.

Duiker said Botswana will not be able to participate this year because the teachers are currently on a ten day strike over salary increments. The teachers have abandoned schools sports until the country’s government agrees on their terms.

The South African government which is currently administrating and organising school sports, have decided to give the administration duties to the teachers.

“The process to establish the structures in all their provinces and to do grass root development is high on their agenda for this year, and no school sport participation on international level, this was confirmed by the Ministry of Education and Cultural Development,” said Duiker.

The championship is funded by the Namibian government as well as Namibia Beverages, Namib Mills, Nampower, MTC, Hollard, Bank Windhoek, Arebbusch Travel Lodge and Namport.

“We are very grateful for every little contribution our corporate partners are making to realise the dreams and aspirations of our young athletes and to give them the opportunity to gauge their talent against other member countries athletes,” said Duiker.

This is the fifth time Namibia will be hosting this championship.

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